Continuing its mission to fill the gaps in care for abused or traumatized youth and families in Southeastern North Carolina, Boys & Girls Homes is opening new offices for its innovative equine therapy program, certified under the internationally recognized Eagala model. The agency will host a public ribbon cutting and open house for its Community Equine Therapy Services at 10 a.m. April 2 on the BGHNC Farm.
The therapy modality, Eagala, is short for Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. Eagala therapy could include equines such as horses, mini-horses or donkeys or other animals such as goats as long as equines are present. Equine therapy clients can include children, adolescents and adults dealing with behavioral health challenges such as eating disorders, ADHD, behavior disorders, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Horses have the ability to mirror the emotions of youth and families,” said BGHNC President and CEO Marc Murphy. “Equine therapy teaches children the importance of healthy communication, making caring connections, and can be used to teach skills to individuals with ADHD, childhood trauma, developmental delays, anxiety, depression and other needs.”
With funding from three North Carolina and South Carolina groups and individuals, BGHNC was able to renovate the Ricky and Dianne Benton Hitching Post into cozy, welcoming therapy offices.
Farm director Amanda Thompson is the Equine Specialist, and C.R.E.A.T.E. Hope clinician Bethany Hart is the Equine Mental Health Professional. Both are trained and certified through Eagala and follow Eagala’s code of ethics. BGHNC’s equine therapy program currently includes 14 horse or donkey therapists along with Vinny and Leo, the Farm’s goat therapists. In Eagala, equines are an equal part of the therapy team along with an Equine Specialist and Mental Health Professional. In Eagala, clients remain on the ground interacting or talking with the equines during therapy sessions and exploring metaphors for their own recovery with the human therapists.
Following Eagala sessions, Thompson has “witnessed client experiences that have no explanation except God has created the resources, space, timing, and people to fulfill the task,” she said.
Only a few foster care or group home agencies offer equine therapy in Southeastern North Carolina.
“The majority of the youth we serve have had trauma,” said Donna Yalch, Chief Community Based Services Officer. “Eagala therapy is another tool in our tool belt that allows us to reach youth that have experienced trauma or have PTSD. The children on campus really seem to enjoy equine therapy.”
Hart said she has seen clients with diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression improve greatly with equine therapy.
“Eagala is more than just a therapeutic modality, it is a way of being," she said. "I couldn’t be more excited to continue embracing Eagala’s core values here at BGHNC throughout my personal and professional journey. The therapeutic impact of equine therapy when combined with trauma-informed intervention is truly remarkable.”
